The foreign national was ordered to pay £20,000 a month after wife number four moved to UK following break up of marriage

A foreign politician is involved in a divorce cash fight in a London court after his marriage to one of his FOUR wives broke down.

The man, who is in his 60s but was not named, has four wives because polygamy is permitted in his home country. Wife number four is an Egyptian who moved to the UK with the couple's two children following the failure of their marriage.

The woman, who had run up legal fees of more than £200,000, asked for £38,000 a month. But judge Mr Justice Mostyn said that was "disproportionate" and said she should get £20,000 a month until the next hearing - due to be held on February 21.

He also ordered the man to pay the children's school fees due this month.

Details of the divorce have emerged in a written ruling by Mr Justice Mostyn in the Family Division of the High Court following a pre-trial hearing.

The judge said relations between the couple were "so antagonistic" that they could not agree on how much money the woman should get for herself and the children prior to the next scheduled hearing in February.

Mr Justice Mostyn said the couple had enjoyed a "high, possibly very high" standard of living.

He did not say where the man came from, but outlined some of his background.

"The husband is a foreign national, aged 62," said Mr Justice Mostyn in the ruling.

"He has four wives by virtue of polygamy being permitted in his home country, of which this wife is number four, who he married in 1999.

"In the 1990s, his involvement in politics in his home country led to self-imposed exile.

"He later returned, was tried and convicted and confined in prison until 2004, when he was released on house arrest, and released therefrom in 2006."